Thrust-producing device with detonation motor

Abstract

A detonation thrust-producing device includes an explosive located in a recess in an external surface of a body. Detonation of the explosive expels material out of the recess, providing thrust to the body in an opposite direction. A mass, such as a metal disk, may be placed blocking or covering the external opening. The body may be a part of a vehicle, such as an airborne projectile. The thrust-producing device may include multiple detonation motors arrayed around the body, capable of being individually or multiply detonated. Such thrust-producing devices may be used for attitude adjustment, steering, or other control of the flight of the projectile or other air vehicle. The detonation thrust-producing devices have the advantage of a faster-response time than propellant-based devices, and do not need the nozzles that are used with many propellant-based devices.

1 . A thrust-providing device comprising:
 a body; and   a detonation motor;   wherein the detonation motor includes an explosive in a recess in an external surface the body; and   wherein detonation of the explosive provides thrust to the body opposite to a direction that material is expelled from the recess.   
     
     
         2 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a detonator operatively coupled to the explosive to detonate the explosive. 
     
     
         3 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 2 , wherein the detonator is operatively coupled to a control system that controls triggering of the detonator. 
     
     
         4 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 1 , wherein the body has an interior opening that puts the recess into communication with an interior cavity of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 4 , further comprising a filler between the explosive and the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 5 , wherein the filler includes a potting compound. 
     
     
         7 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 1 ,  further comprising a projectile operatively coupled to the explosive, wherein the projectile is expelled clear of the body when the explosive is detonated. 
     
     
         8 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 7 , wherein the explosive weighs from  1  to  3  times what the projectile weighs. 
     
     
         9 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 7 ,  wherein the projectile is a disk. 
     
     
         10 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 7 ,  wherein the projectile is made of metal. 
     
     
         11 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 7 , wherein the projectile is in the recess. 
     
     
         12 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 1 ,  wherein the recess has a circular cross-section shape. 
     
     
         13 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 1 , wherein the detonation motor is one of a multitude of detonation motors that are part of the thrust-producing device. 
     
     
         14 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the thrust-producing device is part of an aircraft; and   wherein the thrust-producing device is used to steer the aircraft.   
     
     
         15 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 14 , wherein the body of the thrust-producing device is part of an external surface of the aircraft. 
     
     
         16 . The thrust-producing device of  claim 14 , wherein the detonation motors are circumferentially spread around a perimeter of the aircraft. 
     
     
         17 . An aircraft comprising:
 a body; and   detonation motors circumferentially spread around a perimeter of the body;   wherein each of the detonation motors includes an explosive in a recess in an external surface the body, wherein detonation of the explosive provides thrust to the body opposite to a direction that products from the detonation are expelled from the recess.   
     
     
         18 . A method of steering an object, the method comprising:
 detonating an explosive in a recess in a body of the object; and   expelling gasses generated by the explosive from the recess, thereby creating thrust on the object.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the expelling gasses includes expelling a solid projectile using the gasses. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the object is an aircraft, and the creating thrust is used for steering the object.